Ore-amalgamator



0. E. BALL. Ore A-malg ama'tor. No. ,078. Patented June 22, 1880.

|||| lllllml z 1' .E x x l x I l l I 1 a a l 1 dz d1 I d WITNESSES: INVENTOR,

N. PETERS. PHDTO-LITHOGIRAPIJER. WASHINGTON. D c.

. UNITED STATES PATENT Orricnit CHARLES E. BALL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ORE-AMALGAlVIATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,078, dated June 22, 1880,

Application filed February 18, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BALL,of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamating Ores; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, which form part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof an apparatus constituting part of my invention, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same.

My invention has relation to a new method of amalgamating the precious metals contained in ores; and it consists, essentially, in producing amalgamation in mono.

My invention has relation, further, to a method of extracting, so far as may be done by amalgamation, the precious metals contained in ores; and it consists, essentially, in subjecting the gangue to successive and continuous treatments or steps, each of which consists in amalgamation in bringing mercury and ore containing the precious metals in contact with each other in a vessel or chamber from which (so far as possible) the atmospheric air has been withdrawn and a vacuum created in the upper part thereof, the gangue bein g passed through a continuous series of such vacuumchambers, so that so much of the precious metal therein as escapes amalgamation in the first chamber will be taken up or amalgamated in the next or succeeding chambers.

My invention has reference, still further, to a method and means whereby a vacuum maybe created in each of two or more separate but connected vessels containing mercury, through which ore is caused to pass by a single suction appliance.

It is well understood by scientists that various processes can be carried on in mono to greater advantage than under atmospheric pressure, a familiar illustration of which is found in the well-known vacuum-pan used in making sugar, and described on page 2,686 of Knights Mechanical Dictionary.

I have discovered that by producing amalgamation in cacao I can obtain better results than where such efiect is achieved in the presence of atmospheric air; and the first part of my invention consists, therefore, broadly, in amalgamating in cacao.

Experience has demonstrated that in the process of amalgamating the metals contained in ores it is impossible to obtain "by a single treatment all the metal so contained, and that better results may be obtained by successive like steps in a given unit of time than by a single step occupying the same periodfor example, that more of the precious metal can be obtained from the gangue by passing the latter through a series of baths of mercury than through a single bath, the capacity or extentof transit through the latter being equal to the sum of such series.

My invention further consists, therefore, in a process of amalgamation wherein the gangue (or ore containing the precious metals) is passed through a series of vacuum-chambers, in each of which it comes in contact with a body of mercury, whereby all of said metals capable of extraction by amalgamation are extracted.

By practical experiments I have demonstrated that it is impossible by the force of suction to draw atmospheric air through a.

body of mercury, while I have also found that with due appliances ore and other solid bodies of less gravity than mercury may be readily drawn through the latter by suction exerted on the surface of the mercury. [Do-illustrate: If a U-shaped tube be partially filled with mercury and suction exerted on one of its legs, the air in the space above the other leg will not be drawn through the metal. If, however, suction be exerted so as to draw the mercury wholly into one leg and maintain-it there, and ore be fed into the other leg, such ore will mercury held in suspension. It-follows that if two or more vessels holding mercury be connected, a space above the mercury being left in each, and a suction or exhaust apparatus be applied to the second vessel, the air contained in such first vessel cannot be drawn through the bodies of mercury contained therein in the second vessel. My invention in this relation has reference to means whereby, in an apparatus containing a series of amalgamating-vessels and using but a single suction appliance for drawing the ore therethrough and through mercury contained therein, a vacuum may be produced in each of the preceding vessels as well as in the last of the series.

In the manipulation of ores, which form bulky bodies and are usually worked in localities where tall structures are difficult of construction, a necessity for conducting successive and consecutive or continuous operations upon the ground, or at least without the obligation of ascending and descending several stories, ex-- ists. In other Words, where the ore has to be taken from one vessel to another through a long series, it is of great advantage, if possible, to have all such vessels in or about the same plane, thereby dispensing with the necessity of the buildings wherein they are erected being taller or having more than a N from one to another of said vessels.

In the annexed drawings I have shown an apparatus of my invention, wherein my improved process of amalgamation may be practiced, which I shall now proceed to describe.

A represents an ore-reservoir with rotary agitator B and pipe 0, having openings 0 a, through which the ore (in the form of slime or mixed with water) is drawn. D is a mercuryholder, and E and F two amalgamating-chambers in, or about in, the same horizontal plane, and representing a series which in practice would consist of as many more such vessels as would be found convenient. The larger the number within certain limits the better, though the process can be worked with two. E and F are topless vessels, held in the chambers E and F, respectively. The pipe 0 extends down through the vessel E, and another pipe, G, passes from the latter through the tops of chambers E and F and down through vessel F, as shown. From vessel F extends a pipe, H, to the outer extremity of which is attached a steam-ejector, I, whereby suction may be produced and a vacuum created.

K is a branch pipe connecting pipes G and H, provided with a valve, 70.

From the mercury-holder D proceeds a pipe, d, connecting at d and d with the chambers E and F, and L is another pipe, communicating with each of said chambers and with an amalgam-receiver, M.

The operation is substantially as follows: Ore mixed with water or in the form of slime is fed into the reservoir A, and mercury permitted to flow from the holder D through the pipe 01 into the vessels E and F until the latter become charged up or about up to the dotted line a9 m. The valve in the pipe K is now opened, and the valve (1 closed. The ejector or suction appliance is now started, exhaustin g the airfrom the chamber F direct] y through the pipe H and from the chamber E through pipe G and through the pipe K, and raising the mercury in said chambers E and F until its upper surface is on or about a level with the dotted line y y, thus withdrawing the columns of mercury which entered the pipes (3 and G when said chambers were charged A vacuum is thus created in each of the chambers E and F above the mercury therein, and thelatter held in astate of suspension between said chambers and the inner vessels, E F.

The valve 70 is now closed, whereupon the ganguein the reservoiris drawn into the chamber E through the pipe 0, thence through the mercury in the space 6, overthe edge e of the vessel E, and downinto the latter.

In the transit through the mercury in the space 6 a considerable portion, but not all, of the metals contained in the gangue is extracted by amalgamation. The earthy matter or waste still containing precious metal not amalgamated, or the ore, water, and some of the mercury in a finely divided condition, pass over into the vessel E, as stated, whence they are drawn through the pipe G into the chamber F, passing through said chamber and through the vessel F and out the pipe H, in like manner, leaving, as before, some of the precious metals in the mercury held in suspension in the space f. This treatment is continued through a series of chambers like E and F, of such extent as will cause the extraction, so far as practicable, of all the precious metals contained in the gangue, which extent may be ascertained by any appropriate test, and depends, too, in a measure, upon the power of the ejector or suction appliance, which will cease to be operative beyond a certain limit.

It is-to be understood that the waste from the vessel E, in passing over the edge of the vessel E, and thence rising through the pipe G and traveling into the chamber F, follows the course of the water, which is supplied to make the ore more fluent, and which is an essential ingredient in the process.

When it is desired to test the amalgam in the chambers E F, or to draw of the same and replenish with fresh mercury, such amalgam may be permitted to flow from any one or more of the amalgamating-chambers through the pipe L into the receiver M.

I am aware that it has been hitherto proposed in patents already granted to produce amalgamation by admitting ore to mercury relieved of atmospheric pressure. This, therefore, I do not herein claim.

What I claim as my invention isl. The combination of two or more amalgamating-chambers having connecting-pipes for the admission and exit of ore, an ejector for drawing ore through said chambers and pipes, and a branch pipe, K, for producing a vacuum in one or more of said chambers, substantially as set forth. a

2. The combination of two or more amalgamatingchambers, E F, arranged on or about the same horizontal plane, with communicating pipes, and a single ejector or suction appliance located at the extreme end of the apparatus, and having a separate connection with each of' said chambers, substantially as described, whereby the gangue admitted into one chamber may be drawn upwardly therefrom into another succeeding chamber by suction 15 and exhaust Without artificial pressure, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of February, 1879.

CHAS. E. BALL. Witnesses:

THos. A. OoNNoLLY, GHAs. F. VAN HORN. 

